#cryptics

(◡‿◡♒︎)

(ʘ‿ʘ♒︎) "what you say 'bout me"

cryptids are far more ancient and unpredictable, they cannot process human emotions, but they still feel emotions. Unlike demons.

The reader is very nonchalant and honestly doesn't see the problem with being best friends with an Eldritch abomination...or multiple for that matter.

She meets Genya after his family was murdered, and Genya slowly gets used to them and sees them as friends like the reader.

But then the demon slayers find out. You can decide what happens next!

Genya was suspicious when you had told him that you were friends with beings much like Demons, yet completely different. The beings you called friends certainly looked different... But there was no ill will radiating from them.

They appeared brutal and monstrous, but they also showed compassion unlike any Demon had ever shown. You're happy to share the knowledge of Cryptics with your new friend, because they could potentially help you all with defeating Demons and their wretched king.

But as time passed, the Cryptics, your friends, were discovered by the actual Demon Slayers.

You had feared this day, fearing how people would hurt Cryptics who had done nothing bad to humans! So there you were, standing between the Cryptics and the Slayers, refusing to let any blood be spilled, and you wouldn't budge, even when Genya tried to take you to safety.

You would be damned if you let anyone hurt these precious creatures of darkness, who had been there for you and even for Genya when no one else was!

Of course, there was speculation that you were on the Demons' side, but you weren't, Genya tried to tell this to any Hashira willing to listen to him... And finally, Gyomei heard his plea and agreed to give you a chance to explain yourself and the beings you tried so hard to protect.

You and Genya were taken to meet Master Ubuyashiki, who was calm and willing to let you explain how things really were, and you told him everything in the Hashiras' presence.

"I see..." Master nodded as he moved his gaze from you to Genya next to you, "Is this all true, young Shinazugawa?"

"Yes," Your friend nodded as he hung his head in respect, "These beings... They don't mean harm to humans..."

"Interesting. Young one?" He looked at you, and you recognized it as your turn to speak, "Yes?"

"Can you guarantee that these friends of yours won't bring any harm to humans?"

"I promise- No, I swear that if my friends hurt anyone innocent, then I will go down and take them with me!"

The message was clear. If the Cryptics hurt anyone who didn't deserve it, you would take them to Hell with you.

"O- Oi-!?" Genya gasped, worried sick over you and your words, but Master Ubuyashiki nodded, "Very well. You and your companions will aid us in this war against Demons, and in exchange, we won't harm you or them."

"Thank you, Master!" You bowed down in a mixture of respect and thankfulness, but Genya was still worried because he knew how honorable you were and how you never lied.

Meaning, you were serious when you promised to take yourself down with the Cryptics, in case things went south.

"Are you crazy!?" Genya hissed once it was just you and him.

"What?" You frowned, not understanding why he was mad. The young man sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "You can't just-! You can't promise things like that!"

"Why not?" You were honestly confused, "I meant every word I said!"

"I know!" Genya snapped, "That's exactly it! I don't know what I would do if something bad happened to you!"

You blinked as you recognized the hurt in his voice, and you realized that you hadn't thought things from his point of view. He must have felt so weak for not being able to help you, and so hurt that you were really willing to throw your life away to ensure that your monstrous friends wouldn't hurt anyone.

"Genya, I..." You frowned as you looked down at your shoes, "I'm sorry... I didn't realize how much this meant for you."

"I noticed..." He noted, and you recognized a small hint of humor, and fought hard not to grin.

"You're my best friend," You said as you raised your hand and gently petted his shoulder, "And I promise to you that I won't die because I know my friends won't hurt anyone who doesn't deserve it."

"...You promise?" He asked after a small moment of silence, and you nodded as you smiled, "I promise, from the bottom of my heart! Now, let's go get something to eat! I'm starving!"

It's fiction they're after.

The non-truths that describes and circumscribes truths.

The patterns in the stories that reveal the real world that tells them.

The repeated motifs that distract and misdirect by omitting the truth and letting the audience assume untruths.

The beats and twists that weave truths and untruths into a tapestry of emotion.